The 2008 Ponoka Composite High School graduating class put on a fabulous Grad Fashion Show on April 16 at the Kinsmen Recreation Centre on April 16 in front of 350 people.
Over 40 models participated in the show displaying clothes from local stores such as the Saan Store, New Beginnings and Jones Boys as well as clothes from Red Deer and Lacombe stores.
The show raised approximately $2,400 before all expenses were calculated and was organized by five grad executives including Ericka Emes, Evan Hudson, Hailey Cunnington, Melissa Steblyk and Janice Rampersaud was the fashion show executive.
“I thought it went great, I have heard nothing but good feed back it all went together,” said Rampersaud. “I was definitely surprised by the turnout and I was very pleased with the community coming out and supporting us.”
The show was always moving with the students strutting their stuff down the runway, which extended into the centre of the hall. The seats were all filled with people of all ages enjoying the entertainment. The models showed off casual, sporty, summer, western and formal wear. The movement on stage was always fun and the students seemed to enjoy themselves.
Rampersaud said that the students have been planning the show everydayfor the last two months and it was a lot of hard work that paid off in the end.
“The best part for me was hearing the crowd laugh, to me it really showed that the crowd was connected and everyone had a lot of fun,” said Rampersaud. “I learned that not everything comes out as perfect as you wanted it to be but in the end you get a lot of support from friends, family and the community.”
PCHS administrator assistant Holly Riske was very impressed with the initative that the students took putting on the show.
“I think the students did an incredible job considering the amount of time they had to put together because initially we were not going to have a show this year. I think they did a great job. Aryn Street was the only teacher involved and the students really stepped up to make it happen,” said Riske.
Street helped supervise the students and according to Rampersaud did a lot of work to help make the show successful including running the rehearsals and writing the scripts.
The money raised goes towards the graduation banquet; renting the arena, decorating and any other needs that the students have to put on the banquet.
PCHS commencement will take place on May 9 and the graduation banquet will be on May 10. This year’s grad song/theme is ‘Here’s to the Night.’
“Everyone likes it because we can relate to it so much and it falls into what we are going through right now and it has our own individual meaning,” said Rampersaud.
Banquet and commencement plans are well under way and the grads are looking forward to the celebration.